PLEASANT HILL (21-5, 10-0)
■ Tipping off: On Thursday, the 5 seed Billies play No. 4 seed Riverside (23-4, 10-0) at 3:15 p.m. at North Bend High School. The Pirates have had quite the turnaround, making at least the second round of state playoffs the past three years after going 2-21 in 2023. The Pirates are scorching hot, having won 16 of their past 17. Their lone loss in that time was by a two-point margin. These two teams are slightly undersized, with the Pirates having one player listed above six feet tall, while the Billies have height but not much mass inside. If they win, the Billies face the winner of No. 17 Banks and No. 9 St. Marys.
CRESWELL (18-8, 7-3)
■ Tipping off: #7 seed Creswell faces #2 Cascade Christian (23-3, 10-0) on Thursday at 8;15 p.m. at North Bend. After starting 6-3, the Challengers have rattled off 17 straight victories. They defeated Santiam Christian in the second round of the state tournament, 61-49. These two matched up earlier this season, and the Challengers won a tight one 53-49. The Bulldogs held a one-point lead headed into the fourth quarter, but could only muster 7 points in the final period. That was the closest game the Challengers have had during their win streak. Bulldogs head coach Jesse Thomas said his team is in a better place offensively now than they were then, so the blueprint for success is limiting turnovers and shooting more efficiently.
BOYS STATE SCHEDULE
At North Bend HS
Thursday, March 5 games
■ (17) Banks vs. (9) St. Mary’s, Medford, 1:30 p.m.
■ (5) Pleasant Hill vs. (4) Riverside, 3:15 p.m.
■ (6) Blanchet Catholic vs. (3) Valley Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
■ (7) Creswell vs. (2) Cascade Christian, 8:15 p.m.
